Queens DA Election: Ocasio-Cortez Endorses Tiffany Cabán

QUEENS, NY — Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorsed insurgent candidate Tiffany Cabán in the hotly-contested race to determine who will succeed longtime Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.

Ocasio-Cortez is drawing on her national platform to boost Cabán's campaign ahead of the June 25 Democratic primary, which will most likely determine who succeeds Brown as Queens DA.

"Our criminal justice system needs to change," Ocasio-Cortez told The New York Times in a statement. "New Yorkers deserve a seat at the table, and a champion who will fight to realign our priorities toward equal treatment under the law. If Tiffany Cabán wins, things are going to change."

(Read more about the upcoming election with Patch's Guide To The Democratic Primary Candidates and Guide To The Role Of The District Attorney)

Cabán, a public defender, is only the second person Ocasio-Cortez has endorsed since taking office, The Times reported.

"We are proud of all the endorsements we have gotten, but this is a big deal," Cabán told The Times. "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a progressive champion and she’s been an inspiration for me. It shows that we are building a national, grass-roots progressive movement."

“We deserve a District Attorney that understands that to make our community safer we help people prosper. We deserve Tiffany Cabán.” - @AOC pic.twitter.com/jz18BNP54E
— Tiffany Cabán (@CabanForQueens) May 22, 2019

Cabán has already won endorsements from the national criminal justice reform group Real Justice PAC, founded by prominent activist Shaun King, and the grassroots organizations Make the Road Action and the VOCAL-NY Action Fund.

But news of Ocasio-Cortez's backing has energized Cabán supporters on social media.

I want to thank my rep @AOC for endorsing @CabanForQueens for Queens DA. We can’t underestimate the importance of this race. Queens needs Tiffany Cabán for DA. https://t.co/Jyo9vSkEYM
— morry galonoy (@galonoy) May 22, 2019

we all know Queens is where it’s at.

But seriously so hot right now.

⁦@CabanForQueens⁩ + ⁦@AOC⁩ https://t.co/Ibe6slNLvY
— aya tasaki⚡️彩 (@asiannomad) May 22, 2019

The most coveted endorsement in the country has officially been made! @AOC, thank you so much for the support for @CabanForQueens! Your bravery & hard work last year have made it possible for Tiffany to run. I can’t thank you enough!

Vote June 25 for Tiffany Cabán #PeoplePower https://t.co/K9DDxDIH7D
— Friendly Liberal Otter (@Ic0nick) May 22, 2019

@AOC endorsing @CabanForQueens is like one match lighting another, sparking movement-based, transformative change in Queens #QueensDA https://t.co/sJOWC4wKPj
— Shekar Krishnan (@shek_krishnan) May 22, 2019

@AOC endorses @CabanForQueens! So excited for Tiffany and for #Queens! https://t.co/LWsCBHzsYA

Ocasio-Cortez's endorsement will be a test of her influence in Queens, where last year she unseated U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley, who led the powerful Queens Democratic Party, The Times reported.

Ocasio-Cortez pushed back on The Times's reporting on her endorsement, tweeting, "I don’t believe endorsements are a particular 'test of influence.'"

I endorsed @CabanForQueens for DA not out of a “power move,” but because to me it feels like the right thing to do.

Electing a public defender to a DA’s position with her platform could be transformative, &the organizers busting their butts on the ground have earned recognition.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 22, 2019

Cabán's grassroots supporters are up against the party machine, which is supporting Queens Borough President Melinda Katz in the DA race.

U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks, Queens's new party leader, and City Council Members Adrienne Adams and I. Daneek Miller have all endorsed Katz.